Arts Archive

Making Moves

Wyre Forest District Council worked with Wolverhampton University, Staffordshire County Council and Craftspace to deliver an new exciting crafts residency based project.

This was a unique, cross regional partnership between HE/FE institutions, local authority arts development functions, industry partner/s and Craftspace. The partnerships generated nine craft residencies all placed with host venues who do not have a history of engaging with crafts.

In the Wyre Forest we placed a resident mid career crafts maker in the Boars Head public house on Worcester Street for a period of 20 days.

This will inspire the creation of a newly commissioned piece of work which toured from June 2012 to May 2013 throughout the partner locations.

Jim has a wealth of experience and a varied portfolio and will support a graduate maker who will generate a body of research and a final piece based on their experience with the residency.

Where did the project come from?

Making Moves was a two year project that built on the legacy of the Handmade scheme, through a programme of six craft residencies leading to a one year sub-regional touring exhibition.The ethos of the programme was to bring craft to local audiences through making and exhibiting at places of local interest, this new phase of work builds on this proven model and will support crafts development in the Wyre Forest.

Staffs and Craftspace have been working in partnership since 1998 to explore different models for touring contemporary craft to community venues and developing makers and audiences. Handmade 1 & 2 were followed by Making Moves which began in 2007, the partnership has now expanded regionally to take in a wider range of partners.

If you would like further information about this project please email contact us

Events in 2012

12 Moves Worcestershire Dancing

This ambitious project took place across Worcestershire and formed part of the People Dancing programme which is part of the People Dancing Cultural Olympiad project for London 2012.

Events in 2011

Subway Deluxe 3 - August 2011

Subway Deluxe the next step. KAF Creatives were successful in gaining funding for Subway Deluxe 3. The funding came from the County Councils Inroads fund. Artists returned as part of KAF11 on the 20th of August.

Subway Deluxe 2 - February 2011

A day of live painting, turning two of Kidderminster's subways into plush walk through art galleries, featuring some of the UK's top urban artists: Abe Honest, Army Lion, Bungle, Ian Boyd Walker, JK47, Kone, Miss C, Nathanael Draws, Pistol, & DinDin from Belgium, took place on the 26th February 2011.

Workshops on how to create designs, make stencils and learn spraying techniques took place at the Boars Head, Worcester Street, Kidderminster.

Horsefair Public Art Commission

The Horsefair now has a horse, unveiled by Councillor Stephen Clee and Kidderminster Mayor Anne Hingley in June 2011.

Artist Tom Hill created the work made of over 500 horse shoes which would have otherwise gone into landfill as they can’t be recycled.

The statues pose and the type of horse was chosen by local residents who responded to post cards which were put through their doors. Tom also spend a number of hours talking to local people during the consultation, and a galloping thoroughbred gained the highest number of votes by far.

Broadwaters Project

King Charles 1st School have been keen to work with the Friends of Broadwaters for some time, and this year helped by the Cooperative Society they funded a project which enabled students to work with urban artists Miss C and IBW to create artwork for the Mill. Wyre Forest District Council Arts Development created the link with the artists and coordinated workshops to enable students to develop the artwork inspired by Broadwaters Park and the animals that live there.After 18 months planning, the work was designed and painted in a week, and was unveiled at an event on the 14th of May, which also saw a plant sale, bouncy castle, fair ground rides, a samba band and Morris Dancing and attracted hundreds of local people. The work was unveiled by Mark Garnier to a very appreciative audience and makes a fantastic new edition to the park. The Friends Group were very pleased with the artwork which works very well with the colourwash lighting in the Mill. The group publicised the work proudly on their blogspot which you can reach by following the link, http://bit.ly/broadwaters.

Events in 2010

Broadwaters Project 2010

The Friends worked in partnership with WFDC to commission wood carver Nansi Hemmings to create a bespoke piece for the park.

Canal Project

Artists Peter Barber and Tony Donnelly from Urban Canvas returned to Kidderminster to create another unique piece of graffiti art this Easter. Peter worked with 10 local young people and 2 local artists at the Boars Head Public House to create stencils to include in the work.

Subway Deluxe 2010

On the final day of KAF10 (Kidderminster Arts Festival), the subways between Comberton Hill and Worcester street underwent a major transformation, with some of the country's top street artists coming to Kidderminster to paint their masterpieces on the walls of two of the town's underpasses.

Graffitti Project

Events in 2008

Colin Firestarter Project

This project brought together the Ranger Service, Arts Development and Community Safety.

Our aim was to construct an interactive website appropriate to a difficult target audience which would be both entertaining and thought provoking.The Colin Firestarter was created to educate young people about the consequences of risky behaviour, particularly arson, in a risk free environment.

Stourport Gateway Project

Artist Rob Turner has now completed the Stourport Gateway Mosaic Project. The design reflects the heritage of the area and complements the changing image of Stourport. It can be seen on Bridge Street. The project was commissioned by Wyre Forest District Council and Stourport Forward. Rob has been responsible for over 70 similar projects nationally and has been a self-employed artist since 1989. Several of his pieces have won awards. Rob really enjoyed working in Stourport and his contact with local people

The Severn Project

The Severn Project was funded by the Arts Council and was the product of a cross-county partnership of local authorities led by Shropshire County Council together with the "Desperate Men" - one of the county's premier street theatre companies.